The Ar t of Giving
Take gift giving up a notch this holiday season—or any time— by getting back down to basics. By Christine Smith
Admit it. We’ve all done it. Your little tyke has been invited to a friend’s birthday party (the third one this month) and you’ve just stopped at the toy store on your way home from work, picked out a gift, had it gift wrapped at the store, brought it home and placed it next to your front door, all ready to go. Maybe you’ve even written your child’s name on the card and taped it onto the gift. I‘ve done exactly that— scores of times. We all have. Life is busy. Often too busy.
The fast-approaching holiday season, though, reminds me that, whether your family celebrates Christmas, Kwanza, Deepavali—or none of the above—it’s important to slow down and get back to the basics of gift giving, letting our children take an active role in deciding what to give to their friends and family on those special days. Read on for some ideas…
EARN IT
Kids love to shop, especially with a pocket full of money they earned on their own. As the holiday season approaches—or some other celebration like mum’s or big sister’s birthday—designate a special place in your child’s room or get them a piggy bank so they can put away money they have earned—it can be their earnings from walking the dog, helping with the dishes or with other household chores. Then, when your little ones hit the stores to pick out that special something for that special someone, they can—here’s the best part—pay for it with their own, hard-earned cash. The feeling of satisfaction for them is, well, priceless.
GET CRAFTY
One of the best ways to get back to basics when it comes to gift giving is to give something handmade, and it’s all the more special when it comes from a child. The trick here is to pick an age-appropriate craft that your child will enjoy doing so the project does not become a chore. And bear in mind that, while granny might just love that set of potholders (that don’t match and are a bit askew) your little one took weeks to make, your child’s best friend from kindergarten will probably appreciate the craft kit instead. That said, my daughter once made a teddy bear for her best friend—who just loved it.
THE GIFT OF TIME
Last but by no means least, nothing conveys the spirit of gift giving quite like the promise to spend some time together. Remind the kids that presents don’t have to come from a store, but rather from the heart. So whether it’s your 12-year-old committing c in writing to watch Finding N Nemo (for the sixth time) with his little sister; a “voucher” from your 3-year-old promising to give you one hand massage every night for one week; or a card from your pre-teen dedicating an afternoon to cook with dad in the kitchen—the promise p of a shared moment can be the most m precious gift of all.